This postcard is not the type that I usually collect. I bought it mainly because I was interested in the message written on the front of the card that mentions exchanging cards and Velox (a photographic paper used for real photo postcards).
4/16/04
I like Velox cards very much and would be glad to keep exchanging with you.S. S. Wineman
This postcard also happens to be older than most postcards I have found, because postcard collecting was not yet very widespread in the United States.
When I bought this postcard a few years ago, there was a whole group of postcards addressed to H. D. Baldwin of Hampton, Iowa. I Googled both H. D. Baldwin and S. S. Wineman (the sender of the card) this week after I decided to post this card for Sepia Saturday. I discovered both names listed in the Philatelic West journal of 1904 that was digitized by Google. Philatelic West claimed to be the largest collector's monthly of America.
S. S. Wineman of Oxnard, California is listed as member 78 of Union Souvenir Card Exchange. H. D. Baldwin of Hampton, Iowa is listed as member 86 of American Souvenir Card Exchange Club and was also a member of American Camera Club Exchange. The American Souvenir Card Exchange was consolidated with the The Union to become The Union Souvenir Card Exchange which was organized April, 1904 as a "world wide society for active postcard collectors."
Surprisingly, I was able to see a postcard on eBay that was sent by H. D. Baldwin to a different collector, also in April, 1904. That postcard has a photo of the Court House in Hampton, Iowa (I wonder whether this was the same card sent to S. S. Wineman). I am showing the message section from the front of the card and the sender's stamps from the back. Baldwin included a membership number of the Globe Souvenir Card Exchange that was another card exchange group for American and foreign collectors.
Both Wineman and Baldwin were quite young in 1904. The full names of these collectors were Samuel S. Wineman (born 1889) and Harold Dudley Baldwin (born 1884).
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So Samuel would have been only 15 when he was exchanging postcards with the 20-yr old Harold. I can't imagine many 15 or 20 yr olds doing something like that these days - although I CAN imagine them now doing the equivalent with iPhones & iPads & the like?
ReplyDeleteI thought they were kind of young at first. Then I remembered the foreign penpal I got when I was in junior high. I also had a postcard collection at the time, and got some postcards along with the letters from my penpal.
DeletePOSTCROSSING is a current postcard exchange. Recently I have also had some POSTCROSSING postcard exchanges with young members.
DeleteBeautiful vintage postcard! Something really special!
ReplyDeleteGreetings ffrom Poland!
I wonder if pen-pals ;radio hams exist still,somewhere.I doubt it very much but it would be nice to think they did.Its not just technology,people today would probably bawlk at the thought of the postman reading their messages......which,given todays CIA is a tad ironic!
ReplyDeleteNow that's a great story. Collecting both ends of the exchange makes it doubly interesting. Does writing on the postcard decrease its value?
ReplyDeleteSome people only like used postcards and some only like unused. Overall condition is more important. This postcard is not in good condition.
DeleteActually, it is in "good" condition, but not in "very good" condition (at least as I define those conditions).
DeleteHow interesting to have postcards sent by both young men and what a rewarding hobby.The bonus is that we also get the benefit of their collecting.
ReplyDeleteWhy do I have such trouble putting a comment on Postcardy's site. Can'tr even find an email address.. Well if my normal WordPress boundforz identity won't be accepted I'll just have to try my other blogspot identity simply to say that i enjoyed this post. I do read your posts so you can take that for granted even though my comments don't appear.
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed the post. What kind of problems are you having with comments?
DeleteThat is the first time I have heard of anyone having a problem putting a comment on a post--at least a new post. I do have approval required for commenting on posts older than 2 weeks, and I don't check that very often. Maybe blogger has changed something.
I do not have my email on blogger, but it is on postcardy.com contact link.
This is who can comment: Registered User - includes OpenID
DeleteThe OpenID could be confusing--I always have trouble with that commenting on someone else's blog unless I uncheck it.
That is a fascinating hobby you have. I have a lot of old cards, mostly in German, but not postcards. Thankyou for an insight into your hobby.
ReplyDeleteDid his mother write the note? The writing looks to belong to someone older?
ReplyDeleteAm I missing something?
I, too, have found postcards from people who are simply collecting...they're not writing personal messages, which, of course, are a lot more fun!
ReplyDeleteI recently received a packet of postcards that belonged to my aunt, who was a great collector of letters etc. most are unsent, but a few have interesting messages that she had received, and hopefully will come in handy for future SS posts. Your collection must be amazing!
ReplyDeleteI can imagine it was quite the thrill in 1904 to receive postcards from far away people while growing up in a small town like Hampton, Iowa. The Philatelic Journal had an astonishing geeky level of collector techno babble for a hobby that was still in its early stage of development.
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen a postcard sent by post for years. If only I could find one as remarkable as this at the local flea market - 110 years old with a written comment too.
ReplyDeleteI love that a postcard doesn't have to be 'perfect' to be of historical and social interest.
ReplyDeleteIt's so much fun to think of how excited each of the recipients must have been when their cards arrived. A stranger from far away, a pen pal. These days if you send a postcard you have to hope it arrives. For some reason they always seem to get lost or get to the recipient long after you've returned from your trip. I have found it useful to buy some and mail them in envelopes to a cousin who has never been farther West than Ohio. I think he enjoyed seeing the shots of my little town.
ReplyDelete